Uphaar: Delhi HC notices to CBI, Ansal brothers

New Delhi, Jan 10: The Delhi High Court today issued notices to Ansal brothers and Central Bureau of Investigation in the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy case.

Hearing a petition Justice H R Malhotra asked the above mentioned parties to respond to the notices by January 21. The petition was filed by Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) seeking enhancement of punishment awarded to theatre owners Gopal and Sushil Ansal, two MCD officials -- S S Sharma and N D Tiwari and Delhi Fire Service staff H S Panwar. The Ansals face two-year-imprisonment for their complicity in the tragedy.

Senior advocate K T S Tulsi arguing for AVUT said there was enough evidence to convict Ansal brothers and three others under Section 304 Part II (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC.

According to him, conviction under this section would have sentenced the Ansals to ten years of imprisonment.

AVUT has moved the High Court on January 8 to enhance punishment of two-year-jail sentence awarded to Ansal brothers and three other accused in the fire tragedy case.